TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Graham Barton is eager to prove himself with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The rookie center claimed a starting job this week and will take snaps with the regulars in a game for the first time when the Bucs and Miami Dolphins conclude their preseason schedules on Friday night.

“They had to name someone, but I still think it’s something where I’m coming in here to prove what I can,” Barton said Wednesday following a joint practice between the intrastate rivals at Tampa Bay’s training facility.

“I had a lot on my plate, mentally and physically. I’m starting to adjust and get a feel for the game and how everything is operating here,” the first-round draft pick out of Duke added. “It’s a work in progress and always will be. ... It’s a role I still have to earn every day.”

Coach Todd Bowles clearly likes what he’s seen so far and is counting on Barton to help solidify an offensive line that has a chance to be the best Tampa Bay’s had since 2020, when the Tom Brady-led Bucs won the Super Bowl.

Barton, who beat out fourth-year pro Robert Hainsey, played 32 snaps with backups over the team’s first two preseason games.

We knew he was tough. It’s just how fast he picked it up and the experience he’s been getting and the way he’s been finishing plays. His pass protection has picked up a lot,” Bowles said.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield and the rest of Tampa Bay’s starting offense sat out preseason outings at Cincinnati and Jacksonville the past two weeks.

Barton started five games at center early in his career at Duke, but wound up making 34 of his 39 starts overall in college at left tackle.

“Center is one of the hardest positions to play in sports. … And yeah, he’s still learning. But for him to be able to come in and communicate well and to learn as quickly as he has is impressive, especially since he hadn’t played center in quite a few years,” Mayfield said.

“He’s going to continue to improve with each rep,” Mayfield added. “That’s what we’re excited about.”

Bowles reiterated he hadn’t determined exactly how much the starters will play against the Dolphins.

“It’s not a matter of having success, it’s a matter of playing in a game before we play a real game,” Bowles said.

“The continuity on both sides of the ball, the communication needs to be there, the substitution patterns, everything like that,” the coach added. “I’m really looking for (a) lack of penalties, hopefully, and those things we’re kind of looking for going into the season.”

TYREEK HILL OUT: All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill likely won’t play in Miami’s preseason finale due to a thumb injury that also kept him out of drills during Wednesday’s joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The injury is not considered serious. But Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he is being cautious with the star player because the team doesn’t want to risk making it worse.

Although Hill didn’t practice against the Bucs, the speedy receiver was in pads and did not wear any protective padding on his hands while catching passes and doing some individual work.

“There’s certain situations where you’re in training camp and you’re practicing. Tyreek could practice today, however, there’s also times that because of the timing of where their bodies are at, it kind of puts them at risk to get further injury,” McDaniel said before the joint practice.

McDaniel said some starters will play in Friday night’s preseason finale against the Bucs, but that others will not.

“The strategy is just where guys are at,” McDaniel said. “There’s jobs to be won and then to really evaluate all of the jobs at stake, you end up prioritizing certain aspects of your team and getting game reps for the guys that haven’t played in games as much.”